Extremism, chaos and stability… which options are better for Syrians?

The Syrian crisis continues without any expected solutions for the foreseeable future, amid the failure of the central government of Damascus and the so-called opposition to resolve the conflict in favor of one of them.

Years of conflict changed the course and content of the Syrian homeland which became impossible to return to before 2011, due to the number of victims of the war which claimed nearly 400,000 people, and caused the migration and displacement of millions of Syrians.

In its latest statistics, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights documented the death of 389,000 people, including 117,000 civilians among them 22,000 children, 14,000 women, and 81,000 men.

Damascus government areas… sharing influence and sectarian weighting

With the beginning of the Syrian crisis, the Damascus government's goal was to preserve what was called a useful Syria, but after the Russian and Iranian intervention in full, it began to regain control over the areas it had lost.

These two countries strengthened their presence in Syria by sharing the areas of the Damascus government.

The Iranian intervention and the recruitment of Shiite factions from Iraq, Lebanon and Afghanistan led to the growing sectarian dispute in Syria, and this was offset by the dominance of extremist Sunni groups over the so-called Syrian opposition until there was no longer any opposition and all there were mercenary groups working for Turkey and behind it Qatar, the largest supporter of political Islam groups.

This war between the two sides led to the destruction of the Syrian state, where the areas of the Damascus government are under two rules, the first is the rule of the Shiite factions and is concentrated in the areas of the Syrian capital Damascus, Homs, the Syrian coast and Deir ez-Zor, and the second rule is the rule of the Russian forces which are concentrated in the coastal areas and areas in the capital Damascus.

Turkey's occupied areas... hotbeds of terrorism and crimes

As time passed, the presence of the so-called Syrian opposition, under the direction of the Turkish occupation, was confined to the areas of Idlib and the countryside of Aleppo, Latakia and Hama.

These areas are controlled by the mercenaries of Hayet Tahrir al-Sham (formerly Jabhet al-Nusra) which is on the international terrorist lists.

These areas are witnessing widespread crimes against civilians, and in 2019, a report by Human Rights Watch spoke of torture practices carried out by mercenaries of Hayet Tahrir al-Sham in the Idlib areas in northern Syria.

North and east Syria… a different path and hopes for survival

The situation in north and east Syria was different, as an autonomous administration was established and the Syrian Democratic Forces fought terrorism.

The Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria administers its areas through executive bodies that implement a social contract, in its discussion representatives from the various components of the region participated.

Former Member of Syrian People's Assembly and Islamic preacher Mohamed Habash spoke about this, saying, "The Autonomous Administration was born within the framework of the Syrian democratic project, and it provided a clear reading of the Syrian scene, established an Autonomous Administration in a region of Syria, after long decades of marginalization of Arabs and Kurds, until the regime itself has called the region developing governorates, which is a euphemism to describe them as neglected and backward, and despite all the political transformations in recent decades, the only constant has remained neglecting and marginalizing these areas despite being a storehouse of bounties and blessings."

He continued, "In addition to the poor services and the prevailing living reality in all of Syria, the suffering of Kurds in their areas in particular regarding the issue of nationality and residency was terrible, and I engaged in a series of dialogues in the Syrian Parliament and with decision-makers to help Kurds obtain Syrian citizenship, but to no avail."

He added, "Therefore, I believe that the Autonomous Administration model was a humanitarian necessity to preserve a reasonable degree of decent life for the people of the region within the framework of a united and democratic Syria."

Daraa and As-Suwayda... Voices calling for autonomous administration

As for As-Suwayda, there is talk of a nucleus of an autonomous administration, and there were factions that were able to curtail the security and military institutions of the central government, and they also managed to confront ISIS' attacks.

In Daraa, and in light of the continuation of the repeated escalation between the forces of the Iranian-backed Damascus government and the factions that refused to leave Daraa to the north of Syria, and the failure of the Russian guarantor to play its role, voices calling for the establishment of an administration in Daraa and southern Syria rose.

The Horan Clans' Council issued a statement addressing the latest developments in Daraa Governorate, denouncing Damascus's recruitment of increasing military crowds to the land of Horan, and the siege imposed on the people of Daraa, and denounced the threats made by Damascus officers to kill, storm and displace its residents.

He added, "Accordingly, the time of centralization in Syria has passed forever," calling for the system of government to be "decentralized" so that provinces and municipalities choose their representatives and hold them accountable through transparency and correct institutional work.

Coordinator of the Democratic Secular Syrians Gathering in As-Suwayda, Samir Azzam, spoke about this, saying, "We in As-Suwayda view the Autonomous Administration in North and East Syria as a valid model for the final solution to the Syrian crisis, if this model is circulated throughout Syria, and this will only happen through the final solution to the Syrian crisis."

'The clearest experience of conscious opposition'

About some attacking the Autonomous Administration regime, Former Syrian Parliament Member, Mohamed Habash said, "I think we can say with impartiality that what was achieved in the Syrian east was the clearest experience of the conscious and responsible opposition, and the administration has succeeded in building a necessary military force to confront ISIS."

He added, "I personally strongly believe in the project of the Kurdish homeland a real and dignified dream for the people of this nation on the historical land of Kurdistan in the face of the unjust oppression against this nation that Sykes-Picot promised of a democratic homeland in which people would be equal with their nationalities."

He continued, "But the surprise was that Kurds found themselves in their historical land within three nationalities with extreme fanaticism; the Arab nationalism in Iraq, Syria, the Persian nationalism in Iran and Turkification in Turkey, and he did not find anything that they promised him of ideal citizenship, equality and welcome in their language, heritage and aspirations."

He said: "It is the responsibility of every free person to seek to lift the oppression of oppressed peoples, regardless of the political reality."

He added, "The establishment of this homeland must be a real demand that grows over years in the parliaments of these countries and that it is voted on and implemented in a manner of peace, cooperation and democracy, even if that takes long decades in which there is real maturity in democracy and human rights."

Autonomous Administration is the most appropriate system that preserves minimum rights

Mohamed Habash stressed that "during this period, the most appropriate system that can preserve the minimum rights is the system of the Autonomous Administration based on a true partnership with the Syrian homeland and careful preservation of its unity and national fabric."

On the possibility of the Syrian situation returning to before 2011, the former parliamentarian said, "I think that the administration program which lasted for ten years preserves people's lives and provides them with a decent life. It is a good system, and it is quite realistic that we maintain a social and political experience with this attendance and performance.

He added, "Of course, this is not a perpetuation of the current reality. Today, we are in a state of necessity imposed by horrific events and security and societal chaos, but what is required is further development in the constitutional and legal aspect, building a correct relationship with the Syrian society in the regime and the opposition, in addition to responding to many demands that may not be in the passion of the Autonomous Administration, but it is in the depth of the national condition for Syria to remain united and free

Concerning the accusations leveled by some parties to the Autonomous Administration regime, Mohamed Habash said, "What the people of the Syrian Jazira did is the duty imposed on them by the terrible events in the region, and the project was not born until after the collapse of the ruling regime and its inability to provide security and life for people.

He added, "There is need for more initiatives with the two partners in Syria, the regime in the capital and the opposition in northern Syria, so the relationship with the regime is within the framework of affirming Syria's unity and its national territory on the basis of exchanging services and responsibilities and providing human rights."

He continued, "I also blame the Autonomous Administration for the failure of its programs and initiatives to build real trust with the Syrian opposition factions, and it is not a secret that the Syrian opposition factions still view the Autonomous Administration project as a project of Kurdish transgression over the Arab presence, and this view is certainly supported by the Turkish state, which further complicates the situation.

In this context, Mohamed Habash said, "If I were a decision-maker in the Autonomous Administration, I would have prepared a high-level committee that would propose creative initiatives to meet, cooperate and visit with moderate opposition parties and build joint projects in education, agriculture and services, as the regions are intertwined, as well as in cooperation in managing the disputed areas in the vicinity of Aleppo, and undoubtedly, the continuation of conflicts with the main opposition factions leads to the weakening of both sides and gives the enemies of Syria more ambitions in its dispersion and division."

Autonomous Administration... an inspiring experience

On the possibility of applying the experience of the Autonomous Administration in North and East Syria as a solution to the Syrian crisis, Mohamed Habash said, "The success of the Autonomous Administration in the Syrian east is an inspiring experience and not necessarily a valid copy of imitation everywhere in Syria, but in any case it is a dignified and wonderful experience."

He added, "Therefore, it is also required to take advantage of mistakes and lack of courtesy in corruption and administrative failure, as the region cannot tolerate more failures, and we are all responsible."

We view with hope and optimism

At the conclusion of his speech, Islamic Preacher Mohamed Habash said, "We in the Islamic street look at the experience of the Autonomous Administration with hope and optimism, and I find an appropriate opportunity to commend the role of a team of religious leaders who work in the institutions of the Autonomous Administration in northern Syria in the programs of democratic Islam, following the guidance of Martyr Imam Mashuq Al-Khaznawi, and I am happy that my books participate in the programs of this pioneering institution, as we are all partners in building a democratic society that cherishes Islam and does not embalm the predecessors' choices."

D.H

ANHA